King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands looked to the future and faced the past during his Christmas Day speech.
The King of the Netherlands said: “The future is in good hands.” He praised the youth for their ideas, imagination and determination to leave the world better than they found it. He said they have a lot of resilience but stressed that they could not take on the world alone.
He said: “They [the youth] rightly say: ‘Don’t put it all on us. Listen to us, give us space, trust us, help us, but take responsibility yourself and live up to it!’ “
His Majesty said people are capable of more than they realise and that wounds can heal. This led to the acknowledgement of suffering in colonial times. King Willem-Alexander mentioned how he and Queen Máxima have spoken to people of all ages regarding the colonial past of the Netherlands and said they will continue to focus on this in 2023.
“No one is now to blame for what inhumane acts were done to the lives of men, women and children. But by honestly facing our shared past and acknowledging the crime against humanity that was slavery, we do lay the foundations for a shared future.
“A future in which we stand against all contemporary forms of discrimination, exploitation and injustice.
“The apologies offered by the government are the start of a long road. Let’s keep holding each other, even in intense times with strong emotions.”
The Dutch monarch also spoke of those suffering and facing tough times. He recognised the challenge of climate change and spoke of the importance of democracy.
“Democracy does not mean that those who shout loudest get their way. Democracy means working together with respect for everyone’s fundamental rights on solutions that the majority can identify with. This involves careful consideration of all interests.”
He called on the Dutch to look to the Ukrainians for their courage and unity in the face of “the brutal violence of Russia for ten months.”
The King said to them: “The promise of Christmas – the hope of peace – lives in all Ukrainian hearts and in ours.”
King Willem-Alexander’s speech can be read here.
